Eastern Illinois defensive back Kaleb Lyons, who has played 37 career games, will take over this season at free safety for the Panthers. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
CHARLESTON – For as long as Eastern Illinois senior defensive back Kaleb Lyons has played college football, Andrew Strobel has been his coach.
“I’ve coached Kaleb for five years,” Strobel, EIU’s defensive coordinator, said after a fall camp practice Saturday on the O’Brien Field turf. “He knows (the defense) as well as anybody.”
That experience under Strobel – who arrived at Eastern in 2024 after six seasons at Morehead State – has led Lyons to a new position in the defense this fall at free safety.
“It allows me to make plays all around the field and to use my communication abilities,” said Lyons, a converted cornerback who has played 37 career college games at EIU and Morehead, including 12 last season for the Panthers. “I’ve known this defense longer than anybody here. If I can help get us in a better situation to succeed play to play, we’ll win more games.”
Because of Lyons’ experience, he was a natural fit to quarterback the defense.
“This is a big-time safety-driven defense,” Strobel said, “so knowing the calls, when to call it, what the checks are, the communication aspect (is key). Kaleb is an incredibly smart kid. Having him back there to direct traffic is a safety blanket.”
Lyons said the role comes with additional leadership duties, which he relishes.
“They trust in me,” he said of his EIU teammates and coaches. “They know I’m going to have the best solution possible.”
The Panthers have also moved senior linebacker Noah Williams – called “a tweener” by Strobel — to strong safety to take advantage of his athleticism.
“He’s got some speed and he’s a violent hitter,” Strobel said of the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Williams. “It gives us more personnel, more flexibility.”
Lyons hopes the defense’s flexibility will result in more turnovers for the Panthers. EIU collected 18 last season, including seven interceptions. Lyons’ lone pick came in the season finale against FBS Alabama.
“We need to be better with turnovers,” Lyons said. “We need a lot more interceptions.”
One way to create those interceptions is to consistently bother opposing quarterbacks. The Panthers managed 13 sacks in 12 games last fall.
“We need to be able to get after the quarterback more than we did last year,” Strobel said. “We were not able to create a pass rush to force some more things. The pass rush has been a big emphasis. How can we be creative getting after the quarterback and create more negative yards?”
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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